System and Method for maintaining a user&#39;s hair in at least one ponytail

ABSTRACT

A cap for maintaining a user&#39;s hair in at least one ponytail, comprising fabric used to create a void, stitching enclosing the at least one void, and a piece of material use to form a casing that houses a cord inside. A method of making a cap for maintaining a user&#39;s hair in at least one ponytail, comprising the acts of: pinning a piece of material on the inside of the hat where the void will be created; drawing at least one void on the pinned piece of material; stitching around each drawn void; cutting out fabric inside stitching; sewing material around the inside of each void to form a casing; pulling out material and sewing outside each void; placing a piece of cord inside the casing; tying the cord to form a knot; and stitching over the knot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A cap that allows athletes or an everyday active person to expose the hair through an opening in the cap without the need for a hair band to maintain the hair in place.

2. Description of Related Art

Protective headgear plays an important role in keeping an active user protected from the sun. An example of protective headgear is a cap with an opening to maintain the hair of the user in place and outside the cap, with a flexible opening that expands and tightens accordingly. When necessary, headgear such as a cap with an opening to maintain the hair in place can be used to protect from the sun and to keep the hair away from the face. A variety of hats with openings to allow hair to go through are presently available. Conventionally caps of this general variety have several drawbacks. For example, the present designs require the use of a hair band in order to maintain the hair in place once the hair is pulled through the opening. Additionally, countless hats are thrown away when the opening rips away when the user tries to insert an excess amount of hair through the opening. In other instances, the hair that successfully goes through the opening requires a hair band to keep the hair from sliding out of place. In such case, while the hat may protect the active user from the sun, the constant struggle to maintain the bulk of hair outside the opening becomes problematic. The method of pulling the user's hair through an opening in the hat in prior art presents another disadvantage. To pull the hair through the opening requires the hair to be wrapped in position by a hair band prior to inserting the hair through the opening. This requires the user to at all times wear a hair band with the hat. Accordingly, making it inconvenient and useless on its own.

So as to reduce the complexity and length of the Detailed Specification, and to fully establish the state of the art in certain areas of technology, Applicant(s) herein expressly incorporate(s) by reference all of the following materials identified in each numbered paragraph below.

U.S. Pub. No. 20040006809 of Crenshaw et al. describes a hat containing an adjustable aperture for adjusting the size of the aperture portion that allows the hair to go through. However, the adjustable aperture to keep the hair in place is limited to a drawstring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,334 of Griffith et al. describes a baseball cap to accommodate pigtails and non-bundled hairstyles. The head covering portion is formed from a front panel spaced apart from a back panel by a plurality of side panels, wherein each side panel includes an opening bound by elastic. While each opening is bound by elastic, the openings are created by an overlapping of panels, each limited to accept a sum of hair.

U.S. Pub. No. 20060010566 of Ridgeway describes a hat with one or more holes to receive a portion of the user's hair. Decorations near the opening are interchangeable and removable. However, the holes are designed to a fixed diameter and the size cannot be altered.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,872 of Lema describes a cap with at least one opening to accommodate a bundle of hair to pass through. A gathering mechanism is attached to the cap body around the opening to hold the hair and the cap body in a fixed relationship. The gathering mechanism includes a sleeve that is attached to the cap body and a drawstring that passes through the interior of the sleeve. Additionally, a clamp is required for holding the drawstring in a drawn disposition to hold the sleeve gathered about the bundle of hair.

U.S. Pub. No. 20040163157 of Kronenberger describes a headgear piece having a crown that extends around the head of the user. The crown has a front, a rear, a top and a bottom. The crown has first and second spaced legs which project rearwardly and capture a user's head to maintain the headwear piece in an operative position while on the user's head. In this case, the invention is a headgear piece with a large opening on the back end of the cap to expose the user's hair. However, in order to maintain the hair in a bundle, a head band is still required.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,854 of Kronenberg describes a headwear gear with an opening on the crown portion of the headwear gear to allow passage of an accumulation of hair on the head of the user. The opening may be formed by joining first and second fabric flaps in an overlying relationship. This invention has an opening limited to a fixed diameter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,249 of Higgins describes a head cap with an opening on its central upper portion. The opening designed to receive a single ponytail hair style. The walls around the opening provide support to maintain a neat and trim appearance of the ponytail. However, may require a head band to provide tightening of the hair in position.

U.S. Pub. No. 20060191057 of Lynn describes a hat made entirely of elastic material with one or more holes to allow the hair of the user to go through. An elastic band surrounds the lower edge of the elastic material made hat, the elastic band made of material having a higher elasticity than the elastic material to allow the hat to be worn as a hat or beret. In another embodiment, synthetic hair passes through at least one of the holes to give the appearance that the synthetic hair originates from the user's head. The synthetic hair is particularly useful for those losing their natural hair.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,145 of Stevenson et al. describes a headwear item having a hole at the top of the crown for a ponytail or braid to pass through and a removable closure that conceals the hole at the option of the user. The cap also has a pocket sewn on the inside to allow the stowage of the removable closure when it is not in use. The removable closure is limited to a fixed diameter.

U.S. Pub. No. 20040128739 of Tufano-Sisca describes a cap constructed of flexible material with a visor extending frontward and a pair of rearwardly extending, generally triangular shaped flaps that both have elongated inner edges and lower edges. In one embodiment, the lower edges of the flaps are adapted to affix together by an elongated securing system, such as a hook or loop system. In affixing the lower edges together, flaps are overlapped and the crown of the cap is formed with a small opening forming at the crown of the cap. The hair of a user can be easily directed through the opening. The opening is limited to the size created by the overlapping of flaps.

U.S. Pub. No. 20090151047 of Garza describes a hair gathering hat with an aperture at the crown portion. The crown portion defines a head-receiving opening and comprises inferior and posterior crown sections. A brim portion defines certain head-receiving structure and comprises a superior brim section, a posterior brim section and brim flaps. The inferior crown section is peripherally discontinuous at the posterior crown section for defining an upper hair-receiving notch. The superior brim section extends from the inferior crown section at a crown-to-brim junction. The superior and posterior brim sections define a lower hair-receiving notch. The upper and lower notches together define a hair gathering aperture.

U.S. Design Pat. D391388 of Higgins et al., D399639 of Bartz, D405590 of Bartz, D360519 of Bailey, D482849 of Mansell et al., D595033 of Lynn, D590136 of Campos, Sr. et al., and D617082 of Snell describe an ornamental design of a cap that allows the hair of the user to pass through an opening. The reality is that such inventions only claim the ornate design of the invention, and unlike the aforementioned U.S. patents, hold no functionality.

Applicant(s) believe(s) that the material incorporated above is “non-essential” in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57, because it is referred to for purposes of indicating the background of the invention or illustrating the state of the art. However, if the Examiner believes that any of the above-incorporated material constitutes “essential material” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.57(c)(1)-(3), applicant(s) will amend the specification to expressly recite the essential material that is incorporated by reference as allowed by the applicable rules.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides among other things a cap with one or more voids bound by elastic cord to allow as little or as much hair to pass through and to remain positioned in place. The cap may be comprised of stitching enclosing each void. A piece of material forms a casing that houses an elastic cord within each void. When hair passes through each void, the elastic string tightens to hold the selected hair portion in place without the use of a hair band.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cap that can be easily worn without the use of a hair band.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cap with one or more adjustable size openings.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cap that is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cap which can protect a user from the sun and maintain the hair away from the face, while at the same time remaining aesthetically pleasing.

The above and other objects may be achieved using devices involving a cap, comprising: fabric used to create a void, stitching enclosing the void, and a piece of material use to form a casing that houses a cord inside. The cap is created by executing the acts of pining a piece of material on the inside of the hat where the void will be created; drawing at least one void on the pinned piece of material; stitching around each drawn void; cutting out fabric inside stitching; sewing material around the inside of each void to form a casing; pulling out material and sewing outside each void; placing a piece of cord inside the casing; tying the cord to form a knot; and stitching over the knot.

Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors' intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.

The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.

Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6 are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or “step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6 are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the figures, like reference numbers refer to like elements or acts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 depicts an inside view of an implementation of a cap.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an implementation of a cap.

FIG. 3 depicts a back view of an implementation of a cap.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an implementation of a cap.

FIG. 5 depicts an implementation of a method for making a cap for maintaining a user's hair in at least one ponytail.

Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a device according to various aspects of the invention is shown. In the embodiment pictured, the cap comprises fabric 110, stitching 120, a casing 130, and a piece of cord 140.

The fabric 110 may comprise any material that strengthens the area where it is applied by making the garment more rigid and keeping the fabric from stretching out of shape, including interfacing, and the like. One of ordinary skill in the art will place the piece of fabric on the external part of the cap in the exact region where one desires to create the void. A circle is drawn on the piece of fabric to create the diameter of the desired void. After the desired void is completely drawn on the fabric, stitching is used to surround the drawn circle. An example of the shape drawn on the piece of fabric may include a circle, but the invention is not limited to this shape. Other shapes may include stars, diamonds, hearts, rectangles, triangles, ovals, squares and the like. In the embodiment pictured in FIG. 1, the fabric used is interfacing; however, the invention is not limited to such fabric.

The stitching 120 is used to stitch the piece of fabric on to the inside of the cap, encircling over the drawn circle where the desired void will be created. The stitching allows reinforcement and connects the fabric 110 to the inside of the cap. Once the fabric 110 is stitched inside the cap, the fabric is pulled through the void to the outside of the cap. Stitching surrounds the fabric 110 now positioned outside of the cap forming a casing 130. The stitching may comprise any sewing material for attaching two fabrics, such as threat, spinning yarn, and the like.

The void allows hair to pass through and maintains the passing hair to remain in position outside of the cap. The void resolves the constant problem of having the hair bulk up within the cap by creating hollow spaces to release excess portions of the hair. At least one void may be created approximately near the crown of the cap, however, the invention is not limited to a single void, multiple voids may be created as necessary. While one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that different sized voids will be needed to accommodate different thicknesses of the wearer's hair, some examples of common sizes for the void may be, but are not limited to one inch, ¾ inch, and so forth.

The casing 130 is created from material that allows holding a piece of cord inside 140. The casing 130 may be comprised of, but is not limited to, any material that allows the creation of such housing, such as fold bias tape, twill tape, cloth, fabric, and the like. In the embodiment pictured in FIG. 1, the casing is composed of double fold bias tape. The casing 130 is created from material sewn around the cut out shape of the void from the inside of the cap. After the casing is stitched, the fabric is pulled through the void to the outside of the cap. Stitching is used to reinforce the casing in its form on the outside of the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art would know that in order to form the casing, the material must be sewn inside the cap and around the void in order to create a layer of fabric to be pulled to the outside of the cap to function as a casing to house a cord 140 inside.

The piece of cord 140 is inserted and housed inside the casing 130. The piece of cord may be comprised of any material that allows greater elasticity, such as an elastic string, cord, rubber band, flexible fabrics and the like. The cord is first inserted through an opening at one end of the casing. The cord is then woven through the casing to reach the other end of the casing. Once the cord is in through one end and out the other, the two ends meet and are tied together to form a knot. The knot allows sturdiness and maintains the cord in place within the casing. In the embodiment pictured in FIG. 1, the cord is an elastic cord.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the cap is depicted from the inside view. The cord 140 is found in the internal pouch of the casing 130. The picture depicts the cord tied in a knot and concealed within the casing. Stitching is sewn around the opening in the casing in order to conceal the knot within the casing and maintain the cord in place. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that by stitching the casing's opening, the knot will be concealed in a fixed position allowing greater elasticity and a more secure cavity to allow the hair to remain in position and outside the cap. In some embodiments the opening in the casing may be stitched closed, but is not limited to this procedure.

In some embodiments, the casing may be closed shut by using any other process or procedure aimed to maintain an opening concealed, for example glue, staples, fabric tapes and the like, but is not limited to a specific one.

FIG. 1 also depicts the position of the cord 140 inside the casing 130. Once the casing is created, it is stitched 120 around the void. In a particular embodiment, the casing may be created using double fold bias tape, and the cord is inserted inside the casing. The casing contains two openings and a person of ordinary skill in the art should know that the cord may be inserted from either end.

In some embodiments, the cord may be inserted from the right side opening found on the casing. The cord will be weaved through the inside of the casing, encircling and exiting at the opposing end. A person of ordinary skill in the art would know to take the pieces of cord at each end and tie them together forming a knot.

In some embodiments, the cord may be inserted from the left side opening found on the casing. The cord will be weaved through the inside of the casing, encircling and exiting at the opposing end. A person of ordinary skill in the art would know to take the pieces of cord at each end and tie them together forming a knot.

In some embodiments, the formed knot may be, but is not limited to a single knot, double knot, military knot, suicide knot and so forth.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of the cap is depicted. In the embodiment pictured the cap comprises at least one void positioned approximately near the crown of the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that by creating a single void near the crown of the cap, the user intends to wear the cap in a single ponytail that will pass through the void and maintain the exposed hair outside of the cap.

In some embodiments, the cap will comprise of a void that may be positioned approximately away from the crown of the cap allowing the user to wear the hair outside the cap in the desired position. The invention is not limited to position the void in a single position; the void may be positioned approximately near the crown, approximately away from the crown, and so forth.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would know that the number of voids positioned in a cap will result in the various possibilities where a ponytail or portion of hair may pass through and remain exhibited in the outside portion of the cap.

In some embodiments, the cap may comprise of two voids positioned approximately near or away from the crown of the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art should know that two voids may allow two ponytails or the passage of two portions of hair to go through the two voids. The invention may consist of a single void or two voids positioned approximately near or away from the crow, but the invention is not limited to an exact number of voids.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 depicts a back view of the cap. The embodiment shown in this drawing portrays the appearance of the casing 130 in its complete form. The casing created from any material that allows the creation of such housing, such as fold bias tape, twill tape, cloth, fabric, and the like. In the present embodiment, the casing is double fold bias fabric. The casing stitched from the inside of the cap is pulled through the void to appear on the outside of the cap.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the cap. In the embodiment pictured the cap comprises at least one void positioned approximately near the crown of the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that by creating a single void near the crown of the cap, the user intends to wear the cap in a single ponytail that will pass through the void and maintain the exposed hair outside of the cap.

In some embodiments, the cap will comprise of a void that may be positioned approximately away from the crown of the cap allowing the user to wear the hair outside the cap in the desired position. The invention is not limited to position the void in a single position; the void may be positioned approximately near the crown, approximately away from the crown, and so forth.

A person of ordinary skill in the art would know that the number of voids positioned in a cap will result in the various possibilities where a ponytail or portion of hair may pass through and remain exhibited in the outside portion of the cap.

In some embodiments, the cap may comprise of two voids positioned approximately near or away from the crown of the cap. A person of ordinary skill in the art should know that two voids may allow two ponytails or the passage of two portions of hair to go through the two voids. The invention may consist of a single void or two voids positioned approximately near or away from the crow, but the invention is not limited to an exact number of voids.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method for making a cap for maintaining a user's hair in at least one ponytail according to various aspects of the invention is shown. The first act in the method is to pin a piece of fabric on the inside of the cap where the void will be created 1. The second act in the method is to draw at least one void on the pinned piece of fabric 2. The fabric in various embodiments may comprise any material that strengthens the area where it is applied by making the garment more rigid and keeping the fabric from stretching out of shape, including interfacing, and the like. In the present embodiment the fabric used is interfacing. The interfacing allows the created void to maintain rigidness and prevents the fabric from easily tearing or disintegrating. The third act of the method is to stitch around each drawn void 3. The stitching may comprise any sewing material for attaching two fabrics, such as threat, spinning yarn, and the like. In the present embodiment, the stitching consists of sewing thread that allows reinforcement and connects the fabric to the inside of the cap. The fourth act of the method consists of cutting out fabric inside the stitching to create a void 4. At least one void may be created approximately near or away from the crown of the cap, however, the invention is not limited to a single void, multiple voids may be created as necessary. In the present embodiment, the void resolves the constant problem of having the hair bulk up within the cap by creating hollow spaces to release excess portions of the hair. The fifth act of the method is to sew material around the inside of each void to form a casing 5. The casing may be comprised, but is not limited to any material that allows the creation of such housing, such as fold bias tape, twill tape, cloth, fabric, and the like. In the present embodiment, the casing is composed of double fold bias tape which allows holding a piece of cord inside. The sixth act of the method is to pull out the material and sew outside each void 6. The seventh act of the method is placing a piece of cord inside the casing 7. The piece of cord may be comprised of any material that allows greater elasticity, such as an elastic string, cord, rubber band, flexible fabrics and the like. In the present embodiment, the cord is elastic, allowing sturdiness and maintaining the cord to remain in place within the casing. The eight act of the method is tying the cord to from a knot 8. The ninth act of the method is stitching over the knot in order to conceal it from view and to provide a durable casing to house the cord inside 9. 

1. A cap for maintaining a user's hair in at least one ponytail, comprising: fabric used to create a void; stitching enclosing the at least one void; and a piece of material that forms a casing houses a cord inside.
 2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the casing is made from fold bias tape.
 3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cord is elastic.
 4. The cap of claim 1, wherein the cord is inserted into the casing.
 5. The cap of claim 1, wherein one void holds a ponytail in place.
 6. The cap of claim 1, wherein two voids hold two ponytails in place.
 7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the void is located approximately near the crown.
 8. The cap of claim 1, wherein the void is located approximately away from the crown.
 9. The cap of claim 1, wherein the fabric used is interfacing.
 10. The cap of claim 1, wherein the void is approximately ¾ inches in diameter.
 11. The cap of claim 1, wherein the void is approximately 1½ inches in diameter.
 12. The cap of claim 1, wherein the elastic cord is tied to form a knot.
 13. The cap of claim 10, wherein the piece of the knot hanging outside the casing is concealed by stitching to maintain the cord in place to allow elasticity.
 14. A method of making a cap for maintaining a user's hair in at least one ponytail, comprising: pinning a piece of fabric on the inside of the cap; drawing at least one void on the pinned piece of fabric; stitching around each drawn void; cutting out fabric inside the stitching; sewing material around an inside of each void to form a casing; pulling out material and sewing outside each void; placing a piece of cord inside the casing; tying the cord to form a knot; and stitching over the knot.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the material is interfacing.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cord is elastic.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the casing is fold bias tape.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein one void holds one ponytail.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein two voids hold two ponytails.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the hole is approximately ¾ inches.
 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the hole is approximately 1½ inches in diameter.
 22. The method of claim 14, wherein the void is located approximately near the crown.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein the void is located approximately away from the crown.
 24. The method of claim 14, wherein the stitching maintains the cord in place to allow elasticity.
 25. The method of claim 14, wherein the fabric is interfacing. 